WEBVTT NORMAL AND PERFECTLYLEGAL THING TO DO.THE SHERIFF SAYS HIS DEPARTMENTNEEDS THE MONEY.>> THERE'S A LOT OF FALSEINFORMATION THAT FLOATS AROUNDTHAT GETS MISCONSTRUED WITHWHAT'S REALLY GOING ON. HEATH: PUBLIC AGENCIES LIKE THESHERIFF'S OFFICE, RECEIVINGPROPTERY TAX MILLAGE DOLLARS,CAN DECIDE TO USE ALL OR ONLYPART OF THE MAXIMUM APPROVED BYVOTERS.FINANCIAL TIMES WERE BETTER LASTYEAR, SO SHERIFF RANDY SMITHROLLED BACK MILLAGE RATES, THISYEAR, AFTER THE DEFEAT OF THETAX TO SUPPORT THE JAIL.>> I MADE A DECISION TO ROLL THEMILLAGE FORWARD TO THE MAXIMUMAMOUNT ALLOWED BY LAW.HEATH: IT IS NOT A TAX INCREASEBUT UTILIZING ALL OF THEPROPERTY TAX MILLAGE REVENUELEGALLY AVAILABLE.FOR THE AVERAGE ST. TAMMANYPROPERTY OWNER, MILLAGECOLLECTION GOES UP 35 TO 40CENTS A MONTH, ABOUT $5 A YEAR.IT WILL GENERATE ABOUT $800,000TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.THE MOVE GOT A LOT OF PLAY ONSOCIAL MEDIA, MANY WERECONFUSED, AND SHOWED UP THISMORNING TO FIND OUT WHAT'SACTUALLY HAPPENING.>> I THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING TOCHANGE OUR MILLAGES WITHOUT AVOTE AND IT SOUNDS THAT WAY BUTIT'S ACTUALLY NOT.THEY ARE ROLLING BACK, I MEANTHEY ARE ROLLING FORWARD WHATTHEY ARE ALLOWED TO COLLECT THATWAS ALREADY VOTED ON. >> FRUSTRATION IS MORE THE WORD.I WOULDN'T SAY ANGRY.IT DOESN'T MAKE ME ANGRY, BUTDEFINITELY CONCERNED ANDFRUSTRATED. HEATH: SOME CALLED THE ROLLFORWARD RETALIATION AGAINSTVOTERS FOR DEFEATING THE JAILTAX, BUT SMITH SAYS HISDEPARTMENT SIMPLY NEEDS THEREVENUE.>> THIS MONEY IS USED TO BALANCETHE BUDGET WITH THE CUTS ANDHELPS PREVENT ME FROM LAYING OFF

Social media generated quite a bit of interest recently when St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Randy Smith said he was considering an increase in property tax.

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Officials said it's a common and perfectly legal practice. Smith said the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office needs the money after voters rejected a sales tax proposal earlier this year to fund the jail.

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